FAQs

  • Unlock My Benefits Texas is a pilot program that aims to build and test the initial technical infrastructure for the Public Benefits Hub in partnership with select social service agencies. The pilot will increase access to public benefits in targeted areas and build housing and economic stability for participating families. This nonprofit collaborative is committed to serving struggling families of Harris County. 

    To get screened for benefits, call the Unlock My Benefits hotline at 713-903-7564.

  • A pilot program, also called a feasibility study or experimental trial, is a small-scale, short-term experiment that helps an organization learn how a large-scale project might work in practice.

    Pilot programs are vital testing grounds that let organizations evaluate the potential effectiveness of new initiatives or solutions before full-scale implementation.

  • This pilot program is designed to help you determine what public benefits you may be eligible for, if any. 

    You can get help completing the screener online or over the phone, schedule appointments online or over the phone, get in-person help completing your application and collecting the required documentation, and have any questions you have answered over the phone.

  • The current Public Benefits Hub partners are: 

    1. Catholic Charities

    2. Chinese Community Center

    3. Harris County Public Health

    4. Wesley Community Center.

  • The public benefits screener checks for potential eligibility for: 

    1. SNAP

    2. WIC

    3. Utility Assistance (LIHEAP/CEAP) 

    4. Financial Aid for Childcare 

    5. Lifeline 

    6. Medicare Savings Program QMB 

    7. Children's Medicai d

    8. CHIP 

    9. CHIP for pregnant women 

    10. Harris Health Financial Assistance (Gold Card) 

    11. National School Lunch Program

    12. Medicare Savings Program SLMB Medicare Savings Program QI-1 

    13. Medicare Savings Program QDWI 

    14. Healthy Texas Women 

    15. Medicaid for Elderly and Disabled.

  • No. Please click on the blue "Screen for Benefits" button at the top right of your screen to complete the screener. Once that is complete, you can choose to be directed to one of the pilot partner agencies for additional support and or to apply for any benefit programs.

  • No. There is no cost to:

    1. Use this online benefit screener

    2. Get assistance from any participating agency

    3. Get help applying for benefits via this pilot program

     No Public Benefits Hub agency representative or Unlock My Benefits Texas pilot program representative will ever ask you for money.

  • Most applications require income information for everyone in your family, even if they are not applying for benefits for themselves. However, you will not have to provide a social security number or information about your immigration status if you are only applying for benefits for your children. You can leave those sections blank.If you are undocumented and applying for your child or another family member, do not provide any information about your immigration status. Instead, you may say or write, “I am not applying for this program for myself.”

    Source: https://segurotexas.org/en/

  • No. We do not provide, sell, or rent any personal or contact information to anyone outside of the pilot program and the four participating nonprofit agencies.

  • If you have a question about a pending benefit application, contact the participating pilot program agency who is assisting you.

    If you have a specific question about this Public Benefits Hub pilot program, email pbh@connectivetx.org.